Crockpot Lemonade Chicken

Shake up your weeknight dinners with this easy Crockpot Lemonade Chicken recipe! It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory, with lots of bright citrus flavor. The best part? It cooks hands off so you can relax while the slow cooker does all the work!

this Recipe

If you haven’t heard of Crockpot Lemonade Chicken before, the name might have given you pause. Lemonade… chicken? Yes! You literally use lemonade in the recipe, but trust me: it works. If you love sweet and savory dishes, this is going to be a new favorite.

You’ll also love this recipe if you’re a fan of easy chicken dinners. Coat chicken breasts or thighs with the simple, savory seasoning mixture, pour the lemonade concentrate on top, add fresh lemons and that’s all there is to it. The flavorful juices from the chicken and lemonade mingle with the herbs and spices to create an incredibly delicious meal.

Oh, and I can’t forget that Crockpot Lemonade Chicken is versatile too! You can serve the chicken whole or shred it for sandwiches, salads, and spooning over a bed of rice. Have it for dinner one night and reinvent the leftovers the next day!

Why I LOVE this recipe!

• Easy – Who doesn’t love a crockpot dinner that comes together with minimal effort? This is the perfect kind of recipe for those days when your evenings are jam-packed with homework and after-school activities!
• Delicious –  The vibrant citrus flavors really shine through in this dish, as does that irresistible sweet-and-savory contrast. It’s the perfect spring or summer crockpot dinner.
• Versatile – Use it for meal prep, serve it whole, shred it up, or find another way to make it your own.
• Kid-friendly –  This is pretty much the definition of a kid-friendly dinner. Chicken? Lemonade? And it’s sweet too? Yep, there won’t be any dinnertime battles when you make this Crockpot Lemonade Chicken!

What to Serve with Crockpot Lemonade Chicken

Since this dish has the classic flavors of lemon and herbs, it will pair well with many of your favorite vegetable side dishes. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.

Side Dish Ideas

• Lemon Rice – Go all in on that lemon flavor by pairing Crockpot Lemonade Chicken with my Lemon Rice!
• Brown Butter Broccoli
• Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower – A simple side dish to whip up while you’re waiting for dinner to be done.
• Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts – 5 Flavor Options!
• Perfect Oven Roasted Vegetables – A big plate of roasted vegetables is the perfect pairing with the whole chicken breasts.
• Rolls – Serve it on crusty rolls as a sandwich- this is one of our favorite ways to eat it!

You can choose one or add a few sides to make a wholesome, well rounded dinner. 

Recipe Notes

This Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken recipe is as simple as promised! Just a crockpot and a few minutes of prep time for a family friendly meal.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients + Substitutions

• Chicken breast – Or use the same amount of chicken thighs, both work equally well. If you need to leave the chicken in the slow cooker longer, I recommend choosing chicken thighs
• Dijon mustard
• Oregano – If your family isn’t a fan of oregano, basil or parsley will work instead. 
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Ground black pepper – Lemon and black pepper are always a delicious combination, so feel free to add extra if you’d like.
• Lemonade concentrate – Use about 1/2 of a small can, or 1/3 of a regular can.
• Lemons

Recipe Tips

1. Use chicken thighs if you want to go low and slow – I recommend swapping the chicken breasts for chicken thighs if you want to cook this on low heat. That way, the meat will remain nice and juicy by the time it’s done cooking!
   
2. Don’t use too much lemonade concentrate – You can add more or less of the concentrate, depending on your taste preferences, but if you opt to add more, keep in mind that a little goes a long way. 
   
3. Let the concentrate thaw – Make sure the concentrate is thawed enough that it can easily coat the chicken. This will ensure that it’s moist and flavorful.
   
4. Use an instant read thermometer – This is the fail-safe way to know when crockpot chicken is done. Cook it to 165ºF and not any longer and you’re guaranteed juicy, tender chicken every time.
   
5. Add extra sauce– You can can spoon the liquids from the crock pot over the chicken when serving to keep it nice and juicy. This is even better when you serve it over mashed potatoes, or with garlic bread that can soak up some of the yummy juices.

Recipe Short Cuts

If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!

• Use pre-seasoned chicken – You can use pre-seasoned chicken breasts to cut down on prep and ingredients needed. Italian herb, garlic, or another variety that works well with the flavors in this recipe would be perfect.
  
• Make ahead – If you’d like to get a jump start on tomorrow’s dinner, assemble the ingredients for Lemonade Chicken in the crock pot or a bowl insert and store it in the refrigerator up to 24 hours before cooking. Let the insert sit at room temperature for a few minutes to warm up a bit before you put it in the crockpot and start cooking.

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

• Baked Lemonade Chicken – If you don’t have a crockpot or forget to start the recipe ahead of time, this dish can also be prepared in a baking dish in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and bake for 30-35 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
  
• Crockpot Limeade Chicken – Add limeade in place of lemonade to the crockpot with the chicken to give a new flavor to the recipe.
  
• Crockpot Lemonade Pineapple Chicken – Add a small can of pineapple tidbits to the crockpot along with a 1/2 cup of soy sauce with the chicken for a dish reminiscent of sweet and sour chicken.

Freezer Meal Instructions

Making this Crockpot Lemonade Chicken recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.

1. Season the chicken breasts and add them to a large zip-top bag or airtight container with the lemonade concentrate. 
2. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
3. When ready to cook, defrost overnight and follow the crockpot cooking instructions below.

Crockpot Lemonade Chicken Leftovers

If you have leftovers after making Lemonade Chicken in a crock pot, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of more easy dinners.

To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:

• in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
• in the freezer up to a month

Leftover Recipes

Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!

• Lemon Chicken Pizza – Spread your favorite store-bought pesto over a pizza crust and top with Asiago or Italian-blend cheese and shredded lemon chicken. Bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
• Chicken Salad Sandwiches – Mix shredded lemon chicken with diced celery, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard for a delicious sandwich filling with a hint of sweetness.
• Lemon Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Roll the shredded lemon chicken in butter lettuce leaves with diced red bell peppers, quick-pickled red onions, and other toppings.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!

You can check out all of my crockpot recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.

• Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing
• Hawaiian Meatballs {Crockpot}
• Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce
• Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken Bites
• Slow Cooker Barbacoa Street Tacos
• Chicken Tater Tot Casserole